My cousin (who I'm very close to) turns 18 in January and I'd really like to get him something special, like maybe a book or movie that tells a coming of age story. However, I don't want to pick something really obvious like "Catcher in the Rye", so I thought I'd start this thread to come up with some other suggestions. Can't wait to hear what you come up with!

_________________Brian aka Apples2for10

"...Apples is probably the one who's posted the most relevant musical stuff long term in the past few months."- UniquePerspective

Wed Aug 06, 2014 3:50 pm

Pannic

Broadway Legend / MdN Veteran

Joined: Thu Jul 19, 2007 9:21 pmPosts: 2570Location: California

Re: Looking for "Coming of Age" book/movie as a gift

I was gonna suggest "Stand By Me," but that might also be a bit too obvious.

Wed Aug 06, 2014 6:17 pm

Apples2for10

Broadway Legend

Joined: Tue Feb 13, 2007 2:05 pmPosts: 1601Location: Eastern U.S.

Re: Looking for "Coming of Age" book/movie as a gift

Pannic wrote:

I was gonna suggest "Stand By Me," but that might also be a bit too obvious.

Plus, he already has it lol.

_________________Brian aka Apples2for10

"...Apples is probably the one who's posted the most relevant musical stuff long term in the past few months."- UniquePerspective

Wed Aug 06, 2014 6:27 pm

The Duchess of Mint

Broadway Legend

Joined: Mon Apr 22, 2002 11:23 pmPosts: 979

Re: Looking for "Coming of Age" book/movie as a gift

Dear Pannic,

Does your cousin like musicals? If so, then he might enjoy the movie versions of "Flower Drum Song" (Wang Ta comes of age), "Les Miserables" (Marius comes of age in some ways), or maybe even "West Side Story" (Sad story, but the male characters grow up a lot....in tragic ways).

If your cousin happens to like Disney movies, "Hercules" is a coming of age story, and even though "Treasure Planet's" Jim is more than likely younger than 18, his story is a coming of age story, too. The movie "Tarzan" might be good, too, although Tarzan is likely older than 18.

If your cousin likes much less musical forms of entertainment, either the book OR the movie version of "A Separate Peace", or "The Outsiders" might be good, although some of the characters in those stories are either older, or younger than 18. Even though "A Separate Peace" is about World War 2-era college guys, it was one of my FAVORITE books when I was in high school; the characters were written SO realistically that I actually experienced, for the first time, desire for the protagonist of a book (I desired Finny, because he was just so cool!), and I found that the sad story mirrored my own failing relationship with my best friend.

You must forgive me for my macabre suggestions; I have a rather Goth (?) sensibility when it comes to books and movies. My favorite scene from Fahrenheit 451 was the scene wherein the villain was defeated, and I've always loved thoughtful tragedies....and disaster movies, too.

Well, anyway, I hope that you're able to get your cousin a memorable 18th Birthday gift!